I love being blonde. I've been blonde since I was 14 years old, when I bleached my hair for the part of 'Adelaide' in "Guys and Dolls: the Musical." In high school, being a bleach blonde doesn't change how people view your intelligence, so blonde or brunette, I was set. But my journey into "adulthood" was a different story.
When I entered college as a fashion design student, I didn't think much about the political world. Being fashionable was important, and after all, being blonde gave me confidence and poise in the fashion industry. The American flag, in fact, was more of a type of pattern for fabric than an important symbol of patriotism.
It wasn't until I decided to become politically involved that my hair became an issue -- to other people, that is.
At a Browns game tailgate this past year, I ran into one of my guy friends, who took interest in discussing future goals rather than watching our favorite elite squad, known as the Cleveland Browns. As we discussed his intentions of becoming a well-known music producer, I mentioned that I had become very politically involved since entering college and hoped to enter the political field as a campaign coordinator.
Confused, he stepped back and looked me up and down. He motioned his hand toward the ends of my long, blonde hair, and uttered the words, "You'll need to change this if you want to get anywhere in that industry."
Stunned, I politely excused myself, and retreated back to my friends across the room.
We've all heard the dumb blonde jokes, the stereotypes and the quick judgments made of blonde-haired beings. But I am not even a realblonde. As a driven Aries woman, it's in my blood to remove any doubt from those who underestimate me, even if I didn't directly challenge my "friend." The political battle I fought with myself had become my focus in life. A brunette at heart, fighting the war of Elle Woods, and defying the odds of being taken seriously in this "field."
It doesn't take much to be politically involved — in fact, as an American citizen, it should be our duty to remain informed when it comes to our country.
This is where women who excel in the political world thrive. These women remain informed and well-educated in the world of politics. They form opinions based on their own values and succeed based on the principles of the first and nineteenth amendments.
These women were my motivation. Perhaps the most influential women in my progression has been Tomi Lahren, conservative political commentator and video host. And guess what? SHE'S BLONDE. But that's not her claim to fame. Lahren is well-informed and respected for her opinions as a conservative woman. Her looks are definitely secondary to her intelligence.
As I found myself becoming more informed about public policy and American politics, I found myself going from lazy liberal to concise conservative — caring more about the subjects that were "too taboo" to talk about and voicing my own opinions on the matters. As I entered the conservative movement, media caught attention, as did my peers and public figures.
After much dedication, I have made a name for myself already in the political world. I'm one of the few conservative members of the GOP on my liberal campus, as well as in my own family. I've been recognized by several media sources, as well as my peers, as one of the top conservatives on campus — working with several GOP and conservative campaigns. My opinion is respected, and I can defend my arguments based on my genuine values.
Interestingly enough, I am still blonde and still rockin' the red, white and blue. I'm not yet where I want to be on the scale of importance, but my future is looking brighter than the color of my hair.
